Display device



R. J. STAHL DISPLAY DEVICE April 25, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.26, 1965 INVENTOR. Roamr J. 5mm

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47 TORNE Y R. J. STAHL DISPLAY DEVICE April 25, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 26, 1965 INVENTOR. Haas/er J 5mm ATTORNEY R. J. STAHL DISPLAYDEVICE April 25, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 26, 1965 OT GOOHQU O"O 9 0 00 9 4 Z 0 4 Q 0 oocQoo o do 000060 0 0 coo 16 h h IQ i 7 OQO 7 30 6 m 4 "0 6 4 n 2 O O A INVENTOR. ROBERT J. 57/1/44 ATTOR/VfY 3,315,388Patented Apr. 25, 1967 ice 3,315,388 DISPLAY DEVICE Robert J. Stahl, NewYork, N.Y., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Aug. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 482,852 7 Claims. (Cl. 40-28)This invention relates to display devices and more particularly todisplay devices for receiving a signal representing intelligence in onenumbering system and providing a visual display of the intelligence inanother numbering system.

The prior art suggests a number of systems for visually displayingintelligence in a numbering system which differs from the numberingsystem utilized to activate the device. For example, one known systemsuggests four over-lapping code plates. and a code mask disposedintermediate a light source and a display area. Each of the code platesmay be shifted vertically from a first to a second position while thecode mask remains stationary. Thus, by vertically shifting one or moreof the code plates in accordance with one numbering system, light from asource is permitted to pass therethrough to provide a visual display inanother numbering system.

In another system of which applicant is aware, a translucent screen isspaced from an illumination source and a series of indicia plates arepositioned between the illumination source and the translucent screen sothat light reaching the screen must pass through all of the indiciaplates. Thus, by displacing one or a plurality of indicia plates fromtheir normal position, light passes through the remaining plates toprovide a visual display.

Still another system suggests a pair of apertured code plates disposedintermediate a light source and a translucent screen. Herein, the codeplates have freedom of movement in two directions and by relativemovement therebetween, in accordance with a coded signal, permit passageof light therethrough.

However, all of the known systems for providing a visual display ofintelligence in one numbering system in response to an input signal inanother numbering system disadvantageously employ either a plurality ofcode plates having freedom of movement in only one direction or areduced number of code plates having freedom of movement in twodirections. Also, none of the known systems are advantageously of thenon-volatile type, which may be defined as a type which provides avisual display during the period when external power or signals are notapplied thereto, nor do they include a desirable non-destructive memorywherein an interruption of applied power has no effect upon thecharacter being visually displayed.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an enhanceddevice for visually displaying intelligence in one numbering system inresponse to a received signal representing intelligence in anothernumbering system.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of indiciaplates required to provide a device for visually displaying intelligencein one numbering system in response to a received signal representingintelligence in another numbering system.

A further object of the invention is to increase the number ofdirections of freedom of an indicia plate for a visual display device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a non-volatiledevice for visually displaying intelligence in one numbering system inresponse to a received signal representing intelligence in anothernumbering system.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a non-volatilevisual display device having a non-destructive memory.

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in one aspect of theinvention by a visual display device having means for providing a visualdisplay representing intelligence in a first numbering system and ameans for receiving a signal representing intelligence in a secondnumbering system and mechanically translating the received signal tocause activation of the visual display means. More specifically, apreferred embodiment of the visual display device has a visual displaymeans and a selecting and activating means. The display means includesan enclosure having a transparent surface and containing an array ofelements, a support for the array, and an opaque fluid. The selectingand activating means includes a code plate having indicia and means formechanically directing the movement of the code plate in response to asignal received in a second numbering system.

In the operation of the device, the support for the array resilientlyholds the elements in a first longitudinal position spaced from thetransparent surface permitting the opaque fluid to be disposed betweenthe elements and the surface. Upon receipt of a signal, the code platehaving indicia thereon and freedom of movement in at least threedirections in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the elementsand at least two longitudinal locations is shifted longitudinally andthen normal to the longitudinal axis by the selecting and activatingmeans to provide alignment between certain of the indicia and certainselected elements of the array. Upon removal of the applied sign-a1, thecode plate is returned to the original longitudinal location byresilient means and urges the certain selected elements of the arrayfrom a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal positiondisplacing the opaque fluid between the elements and the transparentsurface and providing a visual dis play.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference ismade to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken alongthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of a cut-away section of a code plateapplicable to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment ofa visual display device 5 which includes a substantiallyrectangularly-shaped enclosure 7 having sidewalls 9, 11, 13, and 15,respectively, and a transparent surface 17. Four solenoids 19, 21, 23,and 25, respectively, are disposed at substantially right angles withrespect to each other with one of the four solenoids 19, 21, 23, and 25immediately adjacent each of the four sidewalls 9, 11, 13, and 15.

Each of the solenoids 19, 21, 23, and 25 has an arm 27, 29, 31, and 33,respectively, which extends through the adjacent sidewalls 9, 11, 13,and 15 and each of the solenoids 19, 21, 23, and 25 is individuallyactuable by an electrical signal in a manner Well known in the art.Also, the distance of travel or throw of each of the arms 29 and 31 oftwo of the solenoids 21 and 23 is twice the distance of travel or throwof the arms 27 and 33 of the two solenoids 19 and 25 in diametricalopposition thereto. An explanation of this difference in travel or throwwill be included hereinafter. Further, the solenoids 19, 21, 23, and 25have been designated l, 2, 8, 4 representative of the well-known binarycode and the purpose of the designation will also be explainedhereinafter.

As can be observed through the transparent surface 17, an array ofelements 35 in predetermined arrangement is contained within theenclosure 7. Certain ones (solid lines) are readily observed by theviewer while other (dotted lines) are undistinguishable. As will beexplained hereinafter, the elements are utilized to provide a visualdisplay in a first numbering system.

Referring to FIG. 2 which is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2, the display device 5 includes a displayportion 37 for providing a visual display in a first numbering systemand a selecting and activating portion 39 cooperating therewith andmechanically translating a received signal representing intelligence ina second numbering system to the first numbering system.

The display portion 37 includes the enclosure 7 having the transparentsurface 17 and containing the array of elements 35, a support plate 41,and an opaque fluid 43. Each of the elements 35 includes aninterconnected shaped portion 45 and guide portion 47 and extends in thedirection of a longitudinal axis substantially normal to a plane passingthrough the transparent surface 17.

The support plate 41 is spaced from the transparent surface 17 along thelongitudinal axis and fixedly attached to the enclosure 7. The guideportion 47 of each of the elements 35 passes through and is in slidableengagement with the support plate 41. Also, the support plate 41predetermines the arrangement of the array of elements 35 and includes aspring 49 positioned about each of the guide portions 47 andintermediate a stop plate 50 thereon and the support plate 41 wherebyeach of the shaped portions 45 of the elements 35 are resilientlyrestrained in a first position longitudinally spaced from thetransparent surface 17.

The opaque fluid 43, which may be in the form of a black pigmentsuspended in a light oil for example, substantially surrounds the shapedportion 45 of the elements 35 located in the above-mentioned firstposition longitudinally spaced from the transparent surface 17. Thus,the relatively high light attenuation obtainable with a very thin layerof such fluids is utilized to render the elements 35 indistinguishableto a viewer when the elements 35 are located at the above-mentionedfirst position longitudinally spaced from the transparent surface 17.

Activation of the display portion 37 is provided by the selecting andactivating portion 39 in accordance with a received signal in a secondnumbering system. The selecting and activating portion 39 includes acode plate 51 and an electromechanical mechanism 53 for directing themechanical movements of the code plate 51 in accordance with a receivedsignal in the second numbering system.

Generally, the code plate 51 is longitudinally spaced from the supportplate 41 and includes indicia which in this particular embodiment is inthe form of apertures 55 and fiat surfaces 57. As will be explainedhereinafter, the discrete location of the apertures 55 and fiat surfaces57 and the cooperative relationship therebetween and the elements 35serve to determine the visual display presented.

The electromechanical mechanism 53 which serves to direct the movementof the code plate 51 includes the previously mentioned four solenoids19, 21, 23, and 25, FIG. 1, located at substantially right angles toeach other and immediately adjacent the sidewalls 9, 11, 13, and 15,respectively, of the enclosure 7; spring members 59 located intermediateto and in contact with the code plate 51 and each of the sidewalls 9,11, 13, and 15, respectively; resilient members 61 disposed intermediateand contacting the code plate 51 and a back surface 63 of the enclosure7; and a solenoid 65 having an arm 67 passing through the back surface63 of the enclosure 7 and afiixed to the code plate 51.

As can be readily observed, the code plate 51 is resiliently suspendedby the spring members 59 to provide freedom of movement thereof in fourdirections in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis. Also, thepreviously mentioned distance of travel of the two solenoids 19 and 25in cooperation with the solenoids 21 and 23 provides four distinctvertical and four distinct lateral locations or a total of sixteenpossible locations of the code plate 51 in a plane normal to thelongitudinal axis.

Further, the resilient members 61 in cooperation with the arm 67 of thesolenoid 65 which is affixed to the code plate 51 provide at least twolongitudinal locations for the code plate 51. More specifically, thecode plate 51 has a force exerted thereon by the resilient members 61and is longitudinally displaced by the arm 67 upon signal activation ofthe solenoid 65. Upon removal of the signal applied to the solenoid 65,the resilient members 61 urge to code plate 51 to the originallongitudinal location.

Referring more specifically to the code plate 51 and the illustrationthereof in FIG. 3, the code plate 51 includes a plurality of apertures55 and flat surfaces 57 discretely located in a predeterminedarrangement. These apertures 55 and fiat surfaces 57 are segregated intoa 5 x 7 array of areas 58 and each of the areas 58 includes a 4 x 4combination of apertures 55 and flat surfaces 57. Thus, each of theareas 58 provides sixteen location possibilities and each of theselocation possibilities may be in the form of either an aperture 55 or afiat surface 57. Moreover, each of the areas 58 is associated with oneof the elements 35 of the display array.

In describing the operation of translating a received signalrepresenting intelligence in a second numbering system to a signalrepresenting intelligence in a first numbering system, it has beenestablished that the code plate 51 is resiliently supported by thespring members 59 and has freedom of movement a plane normal to thelongitudinal axis. For purposes of explanation which will be clarifiedin the description of the operation of the device 5, let it be assumedthat a display element 35 is positioned at the same location possibility69 in each of the areas 58 and that the display element is activatedwhenever a fiat surface 57 appears at this location possibility 69 andnot activated whenever an aperture 55 appears thereat.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the inactivated or normal location of the codeplate 51 provides a fiat surface 57 at the location possibility 69 inthe three central areas 58 of the top and bottom rowsand in the twooutside areas 58 of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rows ofthe 5 x 7 array. At the location possibility 69 in all of the otherareas 58 there is provided an aperture 55. Thus, at the inactivated ornormal position of the code plate 51, the display elements 35representative of the decimal character 0 are activated.

Assuming it is desired to alter the visual display and provide acharacter 7 in the decimal or first numbering system in response to asignal received in the second or binary coded decimal system, anactivating signal would be applied to the solenoid 65 of FIG. 2 as wellas to the solenoids 19, 21, and 25 of FIG. 1. Also, the activatingsignals applied to the solenoids 19, 2.1, and 25 would be representativeof the values 1, 2 and 4 respectively.

Upon receipt of these signals, the arm 67 of the solenoid 65 urges thecode plate 51 along the longitudinal axis in opposition to the forceexerted thereon by the resilient members 61 causing disengagement of thecode plate 51 and guide members 47. The first solenoid 19 would urge thecode plate 51 one position to the right, the second solenoid 21 urgesthe code plate two positions vertically downward, and the third solenoid25 urges the code plate 51 one position vertically upward. As a result,the code plate 51 would be shifted one lateral position to the right andone vertical position downward.

in four directions in As can be seen in FIG. 3, the above-describedshift in location of the code plate 51 provides a flat surface 57,designated by the numeral 7 in the diagram, at the location possibility70 in all of the areas 58 of the top row and all of the areas 58 of theright-hand column. In all of the other areas 58 an aperture 55 ispresent at the location possibility 70. Thus, a flat surface 57 isaligned with a display element 35 in each of the areas 58 necessary toprovide the decimal character 7.

Upon removal of the energization applied to the solenoid 65, theresilient members 61 urge the code plate 51 back to the originallongitudinal location. Thereupon, the code plate 51 urges the shapedportion 45 of the certain selected elements 35 from a first to a secondlocation along the longitudinal axis. The progression of the shapedportion 45 of the certain selected elements 35 along the longitudinalaxis displaces the opaque fluid intermediate thereto and the transparentsurface 17. As a result, the shaped portion 45 of the certain selectedelements 35 becomes distinguishable and a visual display of thecharacter 7 in a decimal or first numbering system is provided.

Since the visual display is dependent upon the axial location of thecode plate 51 and the code plate 51 is maintained in a normal locationby the resilient members 61 and axially displaced upon energization ofthe solenoid 65, it can be readily understood that the display device 5is of the non-volatile type. In other words, power is required to alterthe presented display but once altered, the display is independent of apower source.

Further, the display device utilizes the exponential lightattenuation-thickness relationship characteristic of light absorbingfluids and requires no power consuming devices to provide a visualindication. Thus, the device is of the non-destructive memory type sinceno power is consumed to provide the display and a formed characterdisplay remains until altered by an applied signal.

An alternate embodiment of the above-described display device 5 isillustrated in FIG. 4. Herein, there is provided a code plate 71 whichmay be incorporated into the device 5 as a substitute for the code plate51. This code plate 71 also includes a plurality of discretely locatedsmooth surfaces 79 in a plane displaced from the plane of the planarsurface 77.

In a manner similar to the previously described operation, a signalapplied to the solenoid 65 causes a longitudinal displacement of thecode plate 71. Then, signals applied to the solenoids 19, 21, 23, and25, respectively, cause a shift in the code plate 71 in a plane normalto the longitudinal axis whereupon either a planar surface 77 or asmooth surface 79 of the code plate 71 is aligned with certain selectedelements 35. Upon removal of the energization applied to the solenoid65, the code plate 71 is returned to the original longitudinal locationby the resilient members 61 causing a longitudinal displacement of thecertain selected elements 35 aligned with the planar surfaces 77 toprovide a visual display.

In another embodiment, the support plate 41 is resiliently upheld byspring members 59 in a manner similar to the code plate 51 of thedisplay device 5. Also four solenoids would be disposed at right anglesto each other in substantially the same manner as the solenoids 19, 21,23, and 25, respectively, of the device 5. Thus, the support plate 41 aswell as the code plate 51 would have freedom of movement in fourdirections in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis and four possiblepositional locations in both a horizontal and vertical direction.

Since the solenoids adjacent to support plate 41 would be available fordirecting the movement of the support plate 41 in accordance with areceived signal in the same numbering system as the signal applied tothe code plate 51, it can readily be seen that a greatly increasednumber of characters are available for visual display. Thus, thecombining of directed movement of the support plate 41 and the codeplate 51 is an extension of the mechanical translating features of thevisual display device 5.

7 Obviously, a large number of structural alterations and variations ofthe above-described display device will become apparent to those skilledin the art. For example, the code plate may be disposed exteriorly ofthe enclosure; the solenoids may be contained within the enclosure; theelements may be replaced by electrical contacts connected to anillumination source; the display portion may be replaced by a focusedillumination source; and numerous other modifications are applicable andappropriate.

Thus, there has been provided a device for visually displaying acharacter representing intelligence in a first numbering system inresponse to a received signal in a second numbering system. The deviceis of the nonvolatile type having a non-destructive memory which isobviously accompanied by low power consumption and low heat dissipation.Also, the device is readily adapted to a wide range of colorpresentations by mere variation of the fluid or element colors while awide range of sizes appear applicable with a minimum change inlongitudinal movement because of the relatively high incident lightattenuation characteristic of the opaque fluid for incremental changesin thickness. Thus, relatively small (measured in thousandths of aninch), longitudinal variations in the elements are required.

Additionally, the device is inexpensive to fabricate requiring nocomplicated additional translating equipment and provides substantiallynoise-free operation with a minimum of maintenance and a highreliability under reasonable operating conditions. Moreover, the speedof character change (faster than second) combined with theabove-described and numerous other desirable features are believed to beunobtainable in any other visual display device.

While there have been shown and described what are at present consideredthe preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A visual display device comprising:

an array of elements in predetermined arrangement for visuallydisplaying intelligence in a first numbering system; and

means for selecting and activating certain of said elements in responseto a signal representing intelligence received in a second numberingsystem, said means being spaced from said elements and including asubstantially planar code plate having indicia and means for causingrelative movement between said code plate and said array of elements inat least one of four lateral and one of four vertical positions in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of said code plate and saidarray of elements to provide contact between certain of said indicia andcertain of said elements and cause activation of said certain elementsto provide a visual display of intelligence in said first numberingsystem.

2. A visual display device comprising:

an array of elements in predetermined arrangement for visuallydisplaying intelligence in a first numbering system; and

means for selecting and activating certain of said elements in responseto a received signal representing intelligence in a second numberingsystem, said means being spaced from said elements along an axissubstantially normal to the plane of said array of elements andincluding a code plate and a means for causing relative movement betweensaid code plate and said array of elements, said code plate havingindicia and freedom of movement in four directions in a plane normal tosaid axis to provide selection of and contact between certain of saidindicia and elements and activation of said certain selected elementswhereby said received signal representing intelligence in a secondnumbering system is translated to visual intelligence in said firstnumbering system.

3. A visual display device comprising:

an array of elements in predetermined arrangement for visuallydisplaying intelligence in a first numbering system; and

means for selecting and activating certain of said elements in responseto a received signal representing intelligence in a second numberingsystem, said means being spaced along a longitudinal axis substantiallynormal to a plane passing through said array of elements and including acode plate and moving means for said code plate, said code plate havingindicia thereon and freedom of movement in two directions along saidlongitudinal axis and four directions in a plane substantially normal tosaid longitudinal axis and said moving means directing said movement ofsaid code plate in response to received signals in said second numberingsystem to provide contact between certain selected indicia of said codeplate and certain selected elements of said array to cause activation ofsaid certain selected elements of said array and provide a visualdisplay of intelligence in said first numbering system.

4. A visual display device com-prising:

an array of elements in predetermined arrangement for providing a planardisplay of intelligence in a first numbering system; and

means for selecting and activating certain of said elements in responseto a received signal representing intelligence in a second numberingsystem to provide said visual display in said first numbering system,said means being spaced from said array of elements along a longitudinalaxis substantially normal to the plane of said visual display andincluding a code plate and moving means for said code plate, said codeplate having indicia thereon and freedom of movement in two directionsalong said longitudinal axis and four directions in a planesubstantially normal to said longitudinal axis and said moving meansincluding resilient means opposing said freedom of movement of said codeplate in one of said two directions along said longitudinal axis andsaid four directions in a plane substantially normal to saidlongitudinal axis and mechanical means acting in opposition to saidresilient means in accordance with a signal received in said secondnumbering system.

5. A display device providing a visual display output in a firstnumbering system in response to an input signal representingintelligence in a second numbering system comprising:

means for forming said intelligence in said :first numbering, said meansincluding an array of elements in predetermined arrangement, supportmeans holding said array of elements, said support means being in aplane substantially normal to said elements and having a freedom ofmovement in four directions in said plane, and including first movingmeans having resilient means and mechanical means, said resilient meansupholding said support means and opposing movement thereof by saidmechanical means and said mechanical means directing movement of saidsupport means in said plane in response to a received signalrepresenting intelligence in said second numbering system; and

means for selecting and activating certain of said elements, said meansbeing spaced from said forming means along a longitudinal axissubstantially normal to the plane thereof, said means including a codeplate and second moving means, said code plate having indicia andfreedom of movement in two directions along said longitudinal axis andfour directions in a plane substantially normal to said longitudinalaxis and said second moving means including resilient means opposingsaid longitudinal movement in one of said two directions and said fourdirections in said plane normal to said longitudinal axis and means fordirecting the movement of said code plate in opposition to saidresilient means whereby said second moving means directs thelongitudinal movement of said code plate from contact with said elementsand in a plane substantially normal to said axis to provide a selectionof certain of said indicia and certain of said elements and activationof said certain selected elements by said indicia upon inactivation ofsaid second moving means.

6. A display device having a coded signal input and a visual displayoutput comprising:

means for visually displaying an output including an array of elementsin predetermined arrangement with each of said elements extending alonga longitudinal axis and having a first and a second longitudinalposition along said axis;

means longitudinally spaced from said first position for supporting saidarray and directing movement thereof, said means including support meansand directing means, said support means including a support plate inslidable engagement with each of said elements and resilient meansrestraining each of said elements in said first longitudinal positionand said directing means including resilient means upholding saidsupport plate and providing freedom of movement thereof in at leastthree directions in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis andmechanical means directing the movement of said support plate inopposition to said resilient means in response to a coded signal input;and

means longitudinally spaced from said support means for selecting andactivating certain of said elements, said means including a code platewith indicia and having freedom of movement in at least three directionsin a plane normal to said longitudinal axis and means for directing themovement of said code plate, said movement directing means includingresilient means positioning said code plate and mechanical meansdirecting the movement of said code plate in opposition to saidresilient means and in response to said coded signal input wherebycertain elements of said array are selected and longitudinally movedfrom said first to said second longitudinal position to provide a visualdisplay.

7. A display device having a visual character display output and abinary coded decimal signal input and being non-volatile with anon-destructive memory comprising:

visual display means including an enclosure having a transparent surfaceand containing an array of plungers, a support for said array, and anopaque fluid, said support being longitudinally spaced from saidtransparent surface and slidably contracting and upholding said array ofplungers in predetermined arrangement and resiliently restraining saidplungers at a first position longitudinally spaced from said transparentsurface and said opaque fiuid being disposed intermediate said surfaceand said plungers in said first position; and

means for selecting and activating said plungers in response to a binarycoded signal input, said means including a code plate resilientlypositioned in a second longitudinal position and having indicia andfreedom of movement in at least three directions in a plane normal tosaid longitudinal axis and mechanical means for directing said codeplate to a first longitudinal position and directing the movement ofsaid code plate in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis in responseto a binary coded signal input whereby removal of said signal inputcauses said indicia of said code plate to contact certain selectedplungers of said array and move said plungers from a first to a a secondlongitudinal position displacing said opaque 9 10 fluid intermediatethereto and said transparent sur- 3,106,794 10/ 1963 Le Goff 40-28 faceand providing a visual character display. 3,140,553 7/1964 Taylor 40-28References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 58/1911 France- 1,171,397 2/1916 Brady 4028 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, PrimaryExaminer. 2,770,061 11/1956 Marcy 405 2,920,408 1 19 0 McGuire 5 X LCONTEEJRAS, Assi t nt Examiner.

1. A VISUAL DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING: AN ARRAY OF ELEMENTS INPREDETERMINED ARRANGEMENT FOR VISUALLY DISPLAYING INTELLIGENCE IN AFIRST NUMBERING SYSTEM; AND MEANS FOR SELECTING AND ACTIVATING CERTAINOF SAID ELEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO A SIGNAL REPRESENTING INTELLIGENCERECEIVED IN A SECOND NUMBERING SYSTEM, SAID MEANS BEING SPACED FROM SAIDELEMENTS AND INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR CODE PLATE HAVING INDICIAAND MEANS FOR CAUSING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CODE PLATE AND SAIDARRAY OF ELEMENTS IN AT LEAST ONE OF FOUR LATERAL AND ONE OF FOURVERTICAL POSITIONS IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OFSAID CODE PLATE AND SAID ARRAY OF ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE CONTACT BETWEENCERTAIN OF SAID INDICIA AND CERTAIN OF SAID ELEMENTS AND CAUSEACTIVATION OF SAID CERTAIN ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE A VISUAL DISPLAY OFINTELLIGENCE IN SAID FIRST NUMBERING SYSTEM.